MARTYN WILLIAMS has revealed he is looking to bulk up as he tries to win back his place in the Wales team.

MARTYN WILLIAMS has revealed he is looking to bulk up as he tries to win back his place in the Wales team.

But he insists he's not about to become bogged down by the issue of size and he hopes there will always be room for the old-fashioned smaller openside flyer in the game.

The Cardiff Blues flanker was left out of the starting line-up for the second time in four matches by Welsh coach Steve Hansen ahead of last Sunday's clash with France.

As he had done for the World Cup quarter-final against England, Hansen went for the back-row combination of Colin Charvis, Dafydd Jones and Jonathan Thomas, with the fit-again Charvis replacing Williams both on the openside and as skipper.

Explaining this selection, Hansen said he had gone for size to combat a big French pack.

So, not for the first time in his career, Williams finds himself confronted with an issue that once haunted English World Cup winner Neil Back.

The 5ft 10ins Back titled his autobiography Size Doesn't Matter and, given that he's won 66 caps and been on two Lions tour, that's a pretty fair comment.

But it did matter during the early part of his career when a succession of bigger men wore the England No 7 jersey ahead of him.

And it's now something that the 5ft 11ins Williams is having to deal with once again.

It hasn't stopped him winning 42 caps or making the 2001 Lions tour, but it a topic that he's familiar with.

"It's so much been a worry, but it has always been an issue," said the 28-year-old.

"Initially when I came out of youth there were people saying I was too small to play first-class rugby.

"Then when I started playing international rugby people said it again.

"I've tried really hard through my career to put weight on and get bigger. But some players find it really difficult and I am one of them."

However, Williams says he has made strides under Wales conditioning coach Andrew Hore - and he's hoping to continue the process.

"Since Andrew has come in, there has been a lot more emphasis on weights and on more specialised training," he said.

"You ask Gareth Llewellyn. He will say that he's fitter, faster and stronger than he's ever been. And I feel physically better than I ever have before.

"I've been working hard to get bigger and heavier. I'm 15st 4lb now, which is a bit heavier than I was, and I'm looking to increase a bit more again.

"It's a question of working hard in the gym.

"It's something that I have to look at because I'm not getting picked.

"I'm not going to get any taller, so it's a case of trying to get bigger in terms of bulk.

"I am always looking at ways of improving my game.

"But I'm not going to get bogged down by it.

"I'm still fairly confident in what I can do.

"If you start worrying too much about it, it will get to you, which isn't ideal for confidence."

Williams says he hopes there will always be a place for the smaller seven in the game.

"If you are just going to go for big guys, with three carriers in the back row, then it will become a bit like rugby league," he said.

"Obviously I am going to be biased, but hopefully there will always be a place for an out-and-out seven, who is a bit more creative.

"Otherwise, it takes a bit out of the game.

"I guess it depends what the rest of the pack is like.

"If you've got a big front five there's always going to be room for an old-fashioned seven.

"But if coaches haven't got that big front five, they often look to get a bit more size in the back row.

"Hopefully there will always be a way in for the smaller guy though.

"If you look around world rugby, some of the sevens are not huge guys, people like Phil Waugh, Keith Gleeson and, obviously, Neil Back."

Williams admits it has been hard for him to come to terms with his recent omission from the Wales team.

"It's difficult, because one minute I'm captain and the next I'm on the bench," he said.

"It's frustrating because you want to play.

"But there's a fair amount of competition and I've never looked at it as if I'm guaranteed a place."

Williams is now just keeping his fingers crossed for a recall to face the world champions at Twickenham next week.

"I would love to have a start against England," he said.

And who knows, he might even be up against Neil Back, with changes likely in the home camp after their defeat to Ireland.